Author: Magiquill9
Chapter 8: A Thrilling TaleShips: Harry and Ginny, Hermione and Ron, Bill and Fleur, and Lupin and Tonks.
Chapter Synopsis: Harry and the gang head to the Hog's Head to view Dumbledore's thrilling tale and ponder what he told Harry and Ron, find out there's something about Dobby, reveal to Ginny the prophecy, wonder about Voldemort's upbringing, and head to Grimmauld Place.
Story Summary: HBP raised as many questions as it answered. How can Harry find a horcrux? How can he destroy the horcruxes? Everything was laid out, and we were about to jump off the cliff. Here's where the cliffhanger ends and the adventure begins. Join Harry and friends as they struggle to lead the wizarding world out of despair, fight the good fight, and put an end to the evil that is Tom Riddle.
Disclaimer: And I'm back, hope you all enjoyed that long chapter, took me like three days of working at it nonstop. I've developed ideas for the next couple chapters, and will hopefully get the next three out before the tenth, when I head back to school, after that, updating will be extremely slow because of AP classes and soccer practice, as we start our season on the 6th. So for now,I am barely working on chapter nine, so the update a day will more than likely have to slow down a bit. Sorry for that. I hope all of you are enjoying the story so far, and for now, I submit for your entertainment, chapter 8: A Thrilling Tale.
Harry picked himself up off the ground, having to lay Hagrid aside to get up. He was crushed, mentally and physically. Hagrid was gone, the first person he had ever truly met, and all because of Bellatrix Lestrange, she had a habit of taking people from him. Harry was beyond angry with her; he was ready to kill her, after Hagrid's death started to sink in, but he knew he wasn't a killer. It just wasn't him. Harry looked around, Dobby was smiling proudly at having completed his task, and Ron was on the ground still. Harry shook him and Ron slowly raised his head. Harry let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. Harry helped Ron up, while Hermione and Ginny led the professors to Harry and Ron.
"What happened Mr. Potter?" asked Professor McGonagall.
Harry couldn't answer, too afraid to choke up at his own words. Instead, he just pointed down at Hagrid and held his head down. He heard the girls all gasp. Harry vaguely heard Ron telling that tale how Bellatrix had been aiming for him but he ducked, and it must have hit Hagrid. Hagrid had been cheering Ron on through all the pain. Ron looked no better either though, Bellatrix having hit him with a few nasty curses. Pomfrey helped to heal him and then moved over to look at Harry. She checked him out, and after she was satisfied, they all looked at Harry. Harry had a sudden inspiration.
"Dobby?"
"Yes Master Harry Potter sir?"
"Do you think you could help to clean up Grimmauld Place for people to stay at, maybe even grab Winky to help you?"
"Right away Master Harry Potter sir, anything for the most greatest and bravest wizard I is ever having the fortune to meet."
"And why do you keep calling me master Dobby?"
"Master doesn't know? Professor Dumbledore has given me and Winky to you, to server the most ancient and noble house of Potter, and Dobby is proud to be your humble servant sir."
Hermione gave Harry a look that seemed to scream slave owner, so Harry knew he had to straighten this out.
"First of all Dobby, you aren't my servant, you are my friend. There are going to be some conditions if you and Winky will be working for me. I want you to wear some decent clothes still, like you have been, nothing like how you were with the Malfoy's, and I also am going to be paying the both of you. We can work that out later." Harry looked at Hermione, and she gave him the slightest shake of her head as if to say, that's fine for now. Harry relaxed and sent Dobby on his way.
"Ok, now that that is taken care of. Professor McGonagall, why don't you and the rest of the professors stay at Grimmauld Place for now, until we can work something out? It would probably be a good idea to summon the order wouldn't it?"
McGonagall nodded. They all apparated away to Grimmauld Place, leaving Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny at Hogsmeade.
"Well, what happened? How did you even get to Hogwarts?"
"We apparated into the Gryffindor common room-"
"You can't apparate or disapparate inside Hogwarts!" Hermione shouted.
"Yeah well, that night Dumbledore died, I forgot, he and I flew into Hogwarts on our brooms and he was doing some weird stuff in the air, he must have been taking down the wards. Of course he died after that so no one knew the wards were down. So we just apparated right in."
"Oh," she said quietly. Her infallible fact from Hogwarts, a History, was disproved. It was really all she could say.
"Then we saw where the death eaters were with the map, stunned the Lestrange brothers, and had a talk with Dumbledore. A long talk with Dumbledore." Harry explained the basics of what Dumbledore said, and how Harry was not a horcrux, and explained how Dumbledore had decided that. Ginny seemed thoughtful, it looked like Hermione had informed her of what they were up to after Harry ok'd it. He then recounted their quick lesson on sending messages by patronus, how they saved Trelawney, and their duel to get to Hagrid. Harry also remembered to say how Malfoy got involved, and that Pettigrew had saved him, thus repaying the life debt. Voldemort walked in right after Harry called Dobby, and they escaped before the Avada Kedavra hit them. Hermione and Ginny were a good audience; they gasped in all the right places. Once they were finished Hermione looked at Harry thoughtfully.
"That's amazing Harry. We can talk more about it later. Speaking of later, I also wanted you to see the camcorder from the vault. But that can be another time. For now, what do we do? Head to Grimmauld Place?"
"Not yet, we need to go to the Hog's Head. Dumbledore said he left a pensieve with a memory of how his hand was injured. He also said we needed to talk to Aberforth. Ginny, I suppose Hermione already filled you in on everything, because you don't look confused?"
"Yeah, she told me all about the hocruxes."
"They're called horcruxes Gin." Ginny blushed.
"Right, those things. That's a lot of stuff we have to take care of."
"We? You aren't coming with us, you need to go back to Hogwarts." Harry regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth.
"I don't think the school will be opening anytime soon Harry," she said, somewhat coldly. Harry thought that was it, but he was in for it.
"What did I tell you about trying to protect me? I refuse to sit at home and wait to hear from you, if you are ok, safe, alive. So yes, it is we."
"Ginny, you do understand how important it is for me that you stay safe. If you're with us, you'll be more of a target."
"Won't I also be safer, with you three I mean? Besides, if I stay at home and am a good little girl, I doubt that that will keep me safe. You could always use another person anyway Harry, and if I'm with you, won't it be easier to 'protect me.'"
"She's got you there, mate," said Ron.
"She did hold her own last year, and at the Department of Mysteries, Harry. You know you would rather have her with you, because if she isn't you'll just be worrying about her all the time." Hermione looked at him, waiting for his response.
Harry realized that he already knew what he was going to say. He had known it ever since the idea first came into his head.
"Are you sure Ginny?"
"Yes. I'm with you where ever you go.
"We are too!" chimed in Hermione and Ron.
Harry now understood how Dumbledore had felt on their horcrux mission. He figured it would be appropriate that he say the same thing. So he did. Harry finally fell into acting like a leader, being quidditch captain had helped a lot, and now that he was burdened with the responsibility, it was time to shoulder it and take charge.
"You guys mean a lot to me. But I want you to know, that if you all are following me, I'm in charge, yes?"
"Of course mate," stated Ron as if that was the simplest thing in the world. Hermione and Ginny nodded fervently.
"That means you will do whatever I say?"
"Right, we'd follow you to hell and back Harry," replied Ginny loyally. Harry sincerely hoped they wouldn't have to.
"That also means, that, if I say for example, that you all need to run away, go hide, or go back, you will do asI say."
"I-" at Harry's stare they quickly agreed. "Of course Harry."
"If I say that you all need to hide, you will?"
"Yes."
"If I say run away, or apparate away, you will?"
"Yes."
Harry prepared himself for what he was going to say next, and Dumbledore's words came out of his mouth, sounding as foreboding as they did when he heard them the first time around.
"If I tell you to leave me and save yourselves, you will do as I tell you?"
They looked at Harry oddly. He met each of their stares, and waited for a response.
"Ron?"
Ron kept his head down, but looked up and blue eyes met green. Harry saw the loyalty and resolve set in them, but this was important. He was not having his friends die for him.
"Yes Harry."
"Ok. Hermione?"
She bit her lip nervously and stared at Harry, hoping beyond hope that it would never come to that. Harry could see it in her eyes.
"I will." Hermione seemed to resign herself to the fact that Harry would not let her go if she didn't say she would obey.
"Ginny?"
Her chocolate brown eyes, always filled with happiness and love, turned to Harry, and stared into his emerald green ones. Harry could see the fear swimming in the brown waters, and could see that if he forced her to do that and survived, she just might kill him from the waiting.
"Ginny? This is important. I refuse to let you go with us if you aren't going to listen to what I tell you."
"Yes Harry. If it comes to that, I'll leave." She sighed loudly. Harry chose to ignore it.
"Thank you. That's all I needed. Now let's start this thing huh? Let's find out how to destroy a horcrux. To the Hog's Head everyone."
They began walking and chatting amiably for a few precious moments. Something dawned on Harry, and he turned to Hermione.
"By the way, Hermione, I want you to see about getting a clock like the Weasleys have, that tracks the four of us, but on something small, like a watch or a ring perhaps. And maybe make it an emergency portkey as well."
"Sure thing Harry. I'll look it up."
"Knew I could count on you," Harry replied confidently. Hermione beamed.
They approached the Hog's Head and found it was a mess. Everything was overturned, and it was in ruins. They walked around the pub, Hermione and Ginny turning things over. Harry went with Ron upstairs, and they searched through each room. Just when they got near the last room, Hermione gave a shriek.
"I found the pensieve!" Ron and Harry left the last door closed and headed back downstairs quickly.
"Ok, here's a bottle with the memory. Here Harry, you do it." Harry did as he remembered Dumbledore do during their lessons, and he asked if everyone was ready. They all went in with Harry into the memory. They were falling for a time; Harry held both Ginny and Hermione's hands, while Ron held Hermione's other hand. They landed on the floor, hard. They stood up and brushed themselves off, then looked around. Harry found Dumbledore, and they all headed over to him. Harry watched Dumbledore set the ring on the floor, and then cast a spell.
"The Reductor Curse," Hermione whispered. Harry nodded in agreement, then watched as a spectral image of Tom Riddle rose out of the ring. Harry watched as Dumbledore waved his wand in a circle, followed by a stab through the center, and a sweep of his wand. Harry watched as the soul seemed to descend towards Dumbledore's wand. Harry watched as right when Dumbledore started the sweep, the soul attached onto his hand and entered it. Harry stared, shocked. He heard Ginny gasp and Hermione scream. Harry heard Dumbledore swear, and then watched him do another long and complex spell, hearing his muttering all the time. Then he jabbed his wand at his arm and let out a yell. His arm began to decay, and Harry watched in morbid fascination as the arm slowly began to burn, and die. Harry saw Dumbledore apparate on the spot, and the scene changed. He ran up to Snape, who had a potion ready.
"That's what Snape told us about first year. It's the potion that puts a stopper on death." Hermione gave an involuntary gasp.
"That means Dumbledore was already dying since the start of the year?" Harry asked. Hermione nodded. They were thrown out of the pensieve and landed back in the Hog's Head.
"We didn't really learn how to destroy a horcrux did we? Or how to identify it. Dumbledore did all this non-verbal stuff."
"Well, the ring did have a jagged line running through the middle," said Hermione thoughtfully.
"Ok, so look for something that has a jagged line running through it. Did the diary have that?" Harry thought back.
"I don't remember," said Ginny quietly.
"You destroyed it though."
"Yeah, strange, how come I was able to destroy it without anything happening to me, and Dumbledore does this complex spell and almost kills himself?"
"Maybe it was the basilisk poison?" said Ron.
"I don't know Harry, oh I wish I did. This is bugging me."
"Not used to not knowing things huh Hermione?" asked Harry sarcastically.
"I need to go-"
"To the library," finished Ron, Harry, and Ginny.
"How did you know to use the basilisk fang anyway Harry?" asked Hermione, ignoring the remark.
"I don't know actually. It just well, it just seemed like that was what I needed to do, like I knew I was going to do it all along." Hermione looked thoughtful again.
"So what do you think about what Dumbledore said? About you being a horcrux, err well, not being a horcrux?" asked Ron.
"Well, I'm glad he had an idea about me not being a horcrux. It would make it really hard to beat him if I was the one that kept him alive. Although it would make the prophecy make more sense."
"Prophecy?" asked Ginny.
"Oh," said Harry. "I forgot to tell you about that. There's this prophecy that says I'm the one with the power to beat Voldemort, and umm, one of us has to kill the other one because we can't both be alive? Or something like that. And I have power he knows not," finished Harry. "And according to Dumbledore," he added, "that power is love," Harry finished mock-dramatically, throwing his hands in the air.
"So you're a marked man?"
"Funnily enough, the prophecy says I was 'marked as his equal' so yeah," Harry said nonchalantly. He actually knew the words to the prophecy by heart; it was something that haunted his dreams. At least, when other nightmares weren't taking their turn. How was he supposed to kill a man that was the strongest Dark Wizard in over fifty years? When he, Harry, was only seventeen? It was a tall order. And love was supposed to help him do it? Right. Harry could hear the sarcasm in his own thoughts. "Let's see, the whole prophecy: The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have the power the Dark Lord knows not… And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives… the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…"
"And the N.E.W.T. level analysis: 'The One' is going to be born at the end of July, to parents who have defied Voldemort three times. Voldemort will mark this person as his equal, but this person will have a power that he doesn't understand, or he doesn't know this person has. And one of them has to die by the other's hand, because both of them can't live while one of them is surviving. So I guess that means I'm not alive huh? Wonder what I have to be to be alive. Hermione?"
"Harry? I've been thinking... what about the 'either must die at the hand of the other?' It doesn't actually say you have to kill him, does it? Just that one of you has to die at the other's hand. That could just mean you have to be next to him, not that you have to kill him." Hermione looked at HArry, trying to gauge his reaction. Harry began to think how ironic it would be if the prophecy didn't mean that Harry was the oneto kill Voldemort, that he just had to be there when it happened.Harry looked at her doubtfully, but not wanting to disappoint her, gave her a nod that said, 'yeah, maybe.' He waited for Hermione to continue.
"And for your question, well, being alive means you're in full possession of your soul. And Voldemort doesn't have all of his soul, so he isn't alive, he's just surviving. But you Harry, you have all of your soul don't you?" Harry snorted.
"No, actually I threw a party with a couple dementors back in the day, and they scared me pretty bad you know, since they look like the muggle grim reaper, and I was fooling around with one of them and it kissed me a little bit. So I actually don't have all my soul."
Everyone stared at Harry incredulously.
"Sorry, I'm feeling a bit sarcastic today."
"You shouldn't joke like that Harry," reprimanded Hermione.
"Yeah I know, just it's hard to take it seriously all the time, or else I'd have a breakdown. Hey, speaking of dementors, I wonder why the dementors are so attracted to Voldemort. It's not like he has a soul. Maybe that's why he can control them."
"Or else they control him," joked Ron.
"Yeah Ron, you're right. They snuck in when he was a little kid, and they babysat for him at the orphanage," Harry joked as well. Hermione looked between Harry and Ron.
"You don't think that's possible do you?"
"No Hermione we were joking," said Harry.
"No really, it would make sense. I honestly doubt Voldemort was born evil."
"You're mental, he's the most evil thing in the world. And he wants to be immortal because he's too afraid of death. He's basically saying, you know what, I don't want to be a human. He had to be born that way." Ron stared at Hermione, and Harry waited for the arguing to begin.
"I don't know," said Hermione skeptically. "You know, it would make sense why he's paranoid of death. I mean, if dementors did baby-sit him like Harry said, he would think they were the grim reaper. That would make anyone terrified of death. And he was with muggles so he would be the only one who could see the dementors. It would make a lot of sense. I almost feel bad for him if that were true, I mean, he wasn't really given much of a choice."
"Sure he was, just because he was paranoid of death doesn't mean he has to go kill people Hermione. He made a choice, just like we did. He got along all right at Hogwarts at first, according to Dumbledore. No, he chose the path he took, and I chose mine," Harry said, not wanting anyone to feel pity towards Voldemort. He already went through that with Dumbledore. Harry decided to change the subject.
"Tell you what, Aberforth isn't here right now and I don't know how to get hold of him, so how about we head to Grimmauld Place, you can look at Sirius's library, and the rest of us can just try and understand what's going on?"
Everyone nodded their consent, so together they apparated to Number 12, Grimmauld Place.
Time to review everyone, and please do, it really encourages me.
